NEWS RELEASE
NEWMARKET FOOD PANTRY
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In 2021, the Newmarket Food Pantry received a $37,500 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by installing a community kitchen for nutritional awareness and education, as well as meal preparation, to continue to help food bank users back on the path to self-sufficiency. The project was completed in the spring of 2022 and will give people in the community improved access to programs and services at the local food bank for years to come.
“Our government is proud to offer a helping hand to the Newmarket Food Pantry for this important initiative,” said Christine Elliott, MPP for Newmarket-Aurora. “I look forward to seeing the impact this community kitchen has on our community, as it helps food bank clients get back on their feet after what has been a difficult two years during the pandemic.”
The CEREAL (Community Empowerment-Resource-Education and Awareness Learning) Centre will be a one-stop shop for community members and will offer clients a variety of courses and workshops to educate themselves and others in the community on the importance of nutritious choices and living a healthy and active lifestyle. Sample workshops will include classes on cooking for one, after school cooking for youth, smart shopping, and infant nutrition, to name a few.
The kitchen will be used by a variety of community organizations for training, educational workshops, and a gathering place. And thanks to the $37,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, people of all abilities will be able to access this service, either on site, or remotely.
"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” said Adrian Bain, executive director of the Newmarket Food Pantry. “This grant has allowed us the opportunity to be able to better serve our community, and will be a game changer for years to come. We are so excited to welcome children, seniors, families and all walks of life into our kitchen to learn, grow, and connect through the power of food.”
The Newmarket Food Pantry is committed to our mission of mobilizing community collaboration to provide emergency food support, and poverty reduction strategies, for our neighbours in need. We will continue the fight against hunger until our vision of a community free from hunger is realized. If you wish to enquire about using our community kitchen, please visit the website at: www.newmarketfoodpantry.ca
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
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